Name | Therapeutic Class | Pharmacologic Class |
Diazepam(Valium) | Antiseizure Drug | Bezodiazepine; GABA receptor agonist |
Phenytoin(Dilantin) | Antiseizure Drug; antidysrhythmic | Hydantoin; sodium influx-suppressing drug |
Valproic Acid(Depakene) | Antiseizure drug | Valproate |
Ethosuximide(Zarontin) | Antiseizure Drug | Succinimide |
Dilantin mechanism of action | to desensitize sodium channels | |
Dilantin primary use | treating all types of epilepsy except absense seizures | |
Dilantin adverse effects | CNS depression, gingival hyperplasia, skin rash, cardiac dysrhythmias, and hypotension | |
Valproic Acid mechanism of action | to densensitize sodium channels | |
Valproic acid primary use | for absence seizures | |
Valproic acid adverse effects and additional adverse reactions | limited CNS depression, visual disturbances, ataxia, vertigo, headache | gastrointestinal effects, hepatotoxicity, pancreatitis |
Ethosuximide mechanism of action | suppress calcium influx | |
ethosuximide primary use | for absence seizures | |
ethosuximide adverse effects and rare but serious side effects | rare but include drowsiness, dizziness, lethargy | systemic lupus erythematosis, leukopenia, aplastic anemia, Stevens-Johnson syndrome |
Phenobarbital MOA | enhance activity of GABA | |
Phenobarbital primary use | treat partial seizures and status epilepticus; also treats seizures due to meningitis, toxic reactions, eclampsia | |
Phenobarbital side effects/ adverse reactions | Less pronounced than phenytoin
Sedation
Tolerance | |
Phenobarbital(Luminal) | Antiseizure drug; sedative | Barbituate, GABA Receptor agonist |